-Subject, Form, Content -Principles and Elements of Design

The three basic components of a work of art who are inseparable and combine to produce Organic Unity. FORM The ‘how’ SUBJECT the ‘what’ CONTENT the ‘why’ ORGANIC UNITY

 The “What” of visual art  Can be a person, an object, a theme, or an idea  Objective/Representational images, represent people or objects and look as close as possible to their references’ actual appearance  Nonobjective/Nonrepresentational images, are an advanced type of abstraction and have no reference to any physical object

 The “How” of visual art  It is the development of the work  Refers to the total overall arrangement or organization of an artwork  Form applies the Elements of Art and the Principles of Organization, which are used to give order and meaning  How the artist’s choices relate to each other and interact to form the final appearance of the artwork

 The “Why” of visual art  The artist’s intention, communication, or meaning behind the work (expression or mood developed by the artist)  The most difficult to identify due to the lack of interaction with the artist  Ideally the viewer’s interpretation of the artwork is on the same track as the artist but individual diversity and personal experiences can affect the intended communication

 Divided into 2 sections:  Elements of Art(Line, Shape, Value, Texture, Colour, Space and Form)  Principles of Organization (Harmony, Variety, Balance, Proportion, Emphasis, Movement, Repetition, Rhythm and Unity)

 Fundamental components of art works.

 Line can be thought of as the path of a point moving through space  Lines may swell, taper, divide and multiply  Lines can be used to create texture  Types of line: vertical, diagonal, horizontal, contour, curved, zigzag...

 When a line curves around and crosses itself or intersects other lines to enclose a space, it creates a shape  Geometric, organic, curved, angular, positive, negative

 The relative degree of lightness or darkness  Contrasts in value allow us to see lines and shapes, give a sense of depth and allow us to perceive surface texture  High and Low Key

 The way the surface of an object feels or looks like it feels  An element can have actual texture or appear to have texture  Texture can range from smooth and shiny to rough and dull

 Physical properties of:  Hue (name)  Intensity (brightness)  Value (degree of lightness or darkness)  One of the most expressive elements because it directly affects our emotions

 The measurable distance or the interval between points or images  Can be actual or imaginary

 The physical shape and dimensions of an object within a work of art

 The way the Elements of Design are organized in an art work.

 Harmony is when parts of a composition are made to relate through commonality (Repeated or shared characteristics, elements, or visual units)  It is the Opposite of Variety

 Variety is the differences achieved by opposing, contrasting, changing, elaborating, or diversifying elements in a composition to add interest and individualism  It is the Opposite of Harmony

 Having ‘just enough’ in the artwork so that there is clarity  Not too much, not too little

 Three types:  Symmetrical Balance  Asymmetrical Balance  Unbalance

 The difference in size between units or the parts of a whole  Related to scale

 Is often created by increased contrasts through the use of isolation, placement, direction, and scale  Usually the center of attention within the artwork  Focal point

 Is how the eye travels through visual pathways in an artwork  It is guided by harmonious connections, variety, visual weights, proportions, etc...

 The repeated use of similar elements and visual effects in a composition  Can be a pattern

 The use of recurring elements to direct the movement of the viewer’s eye through the art work and give a sense of unity to the composition.  5 kinds: random, regular, alternating, progressive, and flowing